Some guy refuses to fight and we call that the sin, but he's standing up for what he believes in and that seems pretty damned American to me.

I was mainly influenced by the Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, and others like Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash.

For a long time I was interested in being a social worker. In a lot of ways I feel that that's all my music is, trying to help people.

Most of the music you hear on the radio today is developed for making money. It doesn't feel true or honest. You can feel it in the music.

And I've been walking 'round with memories way too long.

I don't describe myself as a Christian or religious, but I like to think that how I live my life is honest.

This is how it has been since time began: If you want to make something really worthwhile and true, then you have to suffer for it.